Improvement in animal-traps



N. H. WILLIAMS & L. CHAPMAN. Animal-Trap.

No.2 4,221. Paten d A ri ,1879.

WITNESSES INVBNTOR W 2 Z M/ZWIwk/IM ATTORNEYS.

N. PErERS. PHOTD-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NEWPORT H. WILLIAMS AND LAFAYETTE CHAPMAN, OF MURRAYVILLE, ILLINOIS.

lM PROVEMENT IN ANI MAL-TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,221, dated April 8, 1879; application filed October 4, 1878.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, NEW ORT H. WIL- LIAMS and LAFAYETTE CHAPMAN, of Murrayville, in the county of Morgan and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Animal-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

Figure 1 is a top view of our improved trap, the top or cover being removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, taken through the line m a, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of arrows 1. Fig. 3 is the same section as Fig. 2, but looking in the direction of arrows 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the same, taken through the broken line 3 y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish an ,improved trap for catching rats and other animals, which shall be simple in construction and convenient and effective in use.

The invention consists in combining with a trap-box, having vertical spring attached to the side wall, and provided with a bend or shoulder that springs outwardly to one side to support the outer door, a lever pivoted and pressing against the spring to disengage it from the door, and attached to the tilting platform immediately opposite the entrance into the cage-chamber; also in an inner door that leads to a separate apartment, connected with the outer door by a lever and rods, the rod that connects the inner door with the saidlever being provided with a loop, whereby the outer door can be raised or lowered without afiectin g the inner door, but the latter may not be raised without elevating the outer and allowing it to be caught by the shoulder of the vertical spring.

A represents the box of the trap, which is made with a close bottom, and with wire-work sides and top. The box A is divided into two compartments by an opaque partition, B. In one end of the first compartment is formed an opening, in which is pivoted a door, 0, which may be made of wire-work, sheet metal, or other desired material. The door C is made of such a length that when closed its lower end may rest upon the bottom of the box A at an angle of about forty-five degrees (45 To the side of the box A is attached a spring catch, D, in such a position as to catch upon and hold the door 0 when raised into a horizontal position. In an opening or recess in the bottom of the box A, at or near the other end of the first compartment, is pivoted a platform, E, the farther end of which is made the heavier, so as, when left free, to hold the nearer end slightly raised. To the outer or inner corner of the inner end of the tilting platform E is pivoted the lower end of a connecting-rod, F, the upper end of which is pivoted to the rear end of the lever G. The lever G is pivoted to the side or the partition of the box A, or to a support attached to the said side or partition, and its forward part passed through a keeper, H, attached to the said side or partition, and extends across the spring-catch D.

In the side of the box A, directly opposite the door (3, is placed a glass plate, I, so that the animal when he enters the door C may think he sees an unobstructed passage, and may enter boldly to get the bait which is placed upon a hook or in a wire-work receiver, J, placed over the farther end of the tilting platform E. With this construction, as the animal advances to get the bait he steps upon the platform E and tilts it, which movement of the said platform E operates theleverG and presses back the spring-catch D, allowing the door 0 to drop, and the rat or other animal is caught.

In the partition B is formed an opening, which is closed by a pivoted inclined door, K, so that the animal, in seeking to escape from the first compartment, may raise the said door K and pass into the second compartment, whence he cannot escape, as he is unable to open the door K from that side. The spaces at the sides of the door K are closed by side boards L, attached to the bottom of the box A and to the partition B.

To the upper end of the door K is pivoted the lower end of the connecting-rod M, the upper end of which is pivoted to the end of the lever N. The lever N is pivoted to the partition B, and to its other end is pivoted the upper end of the connecting-rod O, the lower end of which is pivoted to the door 0. By this construction, as the door K is raised by the animal in passing through, its movement operates the lever N and raises the door 0 until it is caught and held by the spring-catch D, setting the trap for another animal.

The lower end of the connecting-rod M is slotted to receive the rod that pivots it to the door K, so that the door (1 can be opened without opening the door K, while the door K cannot be opened without opening the door 0.

The opening in the partition B to form the doorway for the door K is placed directly opposite the forward part of the tilting platform E, so that should the animal change his mind after raising the door K sufiiciently high to open the door 0 and back out of the doorway of the said door K, he cannot avoid stepping upon the forward part of the said platform E and tilting it, so as to again close the said door 0, and thus prevent him from escaping.

In the bottom of the second compartment of the box A is formed an opening, in which is pivoted a trap-door, P, one end of which is Weighted and rests in a recess in the said floor, and its other end is left free.

The trap is designed to be set over a barrel or other vessel set in the ground, and partly filled with water, so that when the animalfinds himself caught in the second compartment and runs about seeking away of escape he steps upon the forward part of the said trapdoor P, tilts it, and is precipitated into the wator-vessel beneath the trap, and is thus destroyed.

With this construction the animals will be destroyed as fast as they are caught, and in such a way as to leave no scent or sign to frighten away the other animals or give them any intimation of danger.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In combination with the trap-box A, having the vertical spring D attached to the side wall, and provided with a bend or shoulder that springs outwl 11y to one side to support the door 0, the lever G, pivoted as described, and pressing against the spring to disengage it from the door, and attached to the tilting platform E immediately opposite the entrance into the cage chamber, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The doors 0 K, connected with opposite ends of lever N by rods 0 M, the latter of which is provided with a loop, whereby the door 0 can be raised or lowered independently of the door K, while the latter cannot be raised without raising the former, as shown and described.

NEWPORT HENRY WILLIAMS. LAFAYETTE CHAPMAN.

Witnesses CARY F. STRONG, JOHN W. MCEVERS. 

